Summary
Consultant in Medical Oncology and Academic Senior Lecturer
Qualifications and Personal History
Medical Degree (MBBS) Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, University of London 1994
PhD (as CRUK Clinical Fellow) 2004 awarded by Cambridge University
Joined Imperial College as Senior Lecturer in June 2006
Co-founded Phase I Oncology Trials Unit at Imperial College 2007
Awarded fellowship of Royal College Physicians 2010
Founded LARP Society 2010 - click here for LARP Society website
Laboratory Research Interests
We have identified the RNA-binding protein called LARP1 as being involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of cancer. We have subsequently extended this work to other proteins that affect mRNA translation and how their dysregulation can affect aspects of cancer behaviour, particularlarly chemotherapy resistance. Our team is based in the Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology (IRDB), Hammersmith Campus.
Clinical Research Interests
- Translational Research Projects such as AKTRES study evaluating AKT inhibition as a means of overturning chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer
- Phase I trials of PI3K inhibitors in patients with advanced cancers
- Ovarian Cancer Action Clinical Trials Portfolio - assessing novel anti-cancer agents in patients with ovarian cancer - click here for OCA website
- Phase I trials of "targeted cytotoxics" such as gemcitabine analogues
- Studies of beneficial interventions in ovarian cancer survivors
Clinical Interests
- Phase I clinical trials in patients with advanced cancer - Director of the Phase I cancer trials unit
- Ovarian and advanced endometrial Cancer - Clinical Lead for Gynaecological Oncology
Teaching and Training
- Educational director of Module 1 of Surgery and Anaesthsia BSc course
- Academic Training Director for Oncology - supervisor of NIHR ACF and CL posts
- Member of Specialist Training Committee (STC) in London, Postgraduate Education Committee and Postgraduate Academic Clinical Training Committee
Collaborators
- Professor David Glover - University of Cambridge, UK
- Professor Anne Willis - University of Leicester, UK
- Professor Andrea Berman - University of Pittsburgh, USA
- Professor Utz Fischer - University of Wurzburg, Germany
- Professor Anil Sood - MD Anderson, USA
Membership of Professional Bodies
- American Society of Clinical Oncology
- Royal College of Physicans
- Royal Society of Medicine
- Larp Society
- Scottish Gynaecological Cancer Trials Group
Funding Bodies
- Wellbeing of Women - click here for WoW site
- Ovarian Cancer Action
- Wellcome Trust / GlaxoSmithKline
Publications
Journals
Openshaw MR, Fotopoulou C, Blagden S, et al., 2015, The next steps in improving the outcomes of advanced ovarian cancer, Women's Health, Vol:11, ISSN:1745-5057, Pages:355-367
Rizzuto I, Stavraka C, Chatterjee J, et al., 2015, Risk of Ovarian Cancer Relapse Score A Prognostic Algorithm to Predict Relapse Following Treatment for Advanced Ovarian Cancer, International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, Vol:25, ISSN:1525-1438, Pages:416-422
Blagden S, Omlin A, Josephs D, et al., 2015, First-in-Human Study of CH5132799, an Oral Class I PI3K Inhibitor, Studying Toxicity, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics, in Patients with Metastatic Cancer (vol 20, pg 5908, 2014), Clinical Cancer Research, Vol:21, ISSN:1078-0432, Pages:660-660
Hopkins TG, Stavraka C, Gabra H, et al., 2015, Sexual activity and functioning in ovarian cancer survivors: an internet-based evaluation, Climacteric, Vol:18, ISSN:1369-7137, Pages:94-98
Mura M, Hopkins TG, Michael T, et al., 2014, LARP1 post-transcriptionally regulates mTOR and contributes to cancer progression, Oncogene, Vol:34, ISSN:1476-5594, Pages:5025-5036